New Noshes

Where and what to eat this month

BY KATIE NANTON

THE PRAGUERY Quick—what’s your dream street food? Chances are your answer will change after visiting The Praguery. With four food trucks already circulating around the Lower Mainland, you may well have tried their sweet specialty: a decadent hand-rolled chimney cake erupting with vanilla soft-serve and delicious toppings. Now you can try it in White Rock, too, where The Praguery is popping up for a year inside Coho Eatery, steps from the White Rock pier. You can dine-in, but we recommend taking your cone to go because these delicious treats are the best snacks to stroll the waterfront with. Every doughnut-like cone is soft on the inside and crispy on the outside, and guests can even select vegan vanilla soft-serve. Sought-after fillings include the Nutella Brownie, with a Nutella-lined chimney cake cone, brownie and crushed almonds, as well as Panda’s Matcha, served with homemade matcha sauce and a panda cookie. The current bestseller? Mr Berry, bursting with house-made strawberry coulis, fresh locally grown strawberries and chocolate chips. Yum. 14985 Marine Dr., White Rock. Praguery.com

BAGHEERA

Earlier this year the Happy Valley Turf Club off-track betting shop on Main and East Pender started bustling. At first, a few well-heeled groups and couples spilling out of the doorway was a sign that something was going on. Now, the lineups start before the door opens, with groups vying for a spot at Chinatown’s coolest new hidden lounge, Bagheera. The name is borrowed from Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book—remember the black panther?—and the inside is an ode to late-19th/early-20th century India. To enter, place a wager on “King Louie” and have the doors opened for you to a dimly lit, 60-seat space serving craft sips and small-plate Indian fare. The stunning interiors will take your breath away—it is decorated with more than 1,000 coins and bangles sourced from the antique bazaars of Delhi and Jaipur; a hand-painted jungle spanning the entire north wall; and a 42-foot bar covered in reclaimed teak with a backsplash of polished tiger-blue onyx—as will the excellent cocktails, which are named after Kipling works. All said, the best part of Bagheera may well be the “no phones” policy—you can focus on your experience, take in the décor, sip on your drink and talk to your friends without worrying about Instagramming any of it. 518 Main St. @whereisbagheera

WA! CURRY

There’s a new comfort food in town: Wa! Curry’s sinfully delicious Japanese-style curry (the “Wa!” comes from washoku, which means Japanese food). Served on a bed of premium white rice grown in Japan’s Iwate prefecture, this addictive umami-rich curry is made from wagyu beef and a plant-based keema curry flavour. From this meaty base it’s a choose-your-own-adventure of toppings: sliced pork katsu, big crunchy ebi (prawns), deep-fried Brussels sprouts, a soft-boiled egg and more. No matter your order, you’ll also receive a smattering of freshly chopped green onions and a full belly, heading into the rest of your day satisfied. Take note that Wa! Curry is a casual, counter-service-style restaurant and is usually full-up by noon with the downtown lunch crowd. But, you can pre-order for dine in or take out (if you’re eating in, try the crispy curry bun, made in-house). Vegan or vegetarian? There’s a vegan keema curry with potatoes, carrots, celery and onions just for you. 622 W. Pender St., 604-336-5563. Wacurry.com

THE FARMHOUSE

The vibe? Italian countryside in the heart of Mount Pleasant. The food? Northern Italian, with a few twists. To step into The Farmhouse is to set foot in a rustic-chic room adorned with heritage-inspired details: wood, dried flowers, antique frames, botanical postcards, candlelit tables. Food-wise, expect pastas and proteins like halibut, steak and roast chicken with some unexpected ingredient pairings. A tagliatelle al ragu is served with duck, cured egg yolk and a slightly unconventional chicken-liver mousse that hits its level of richness out of the park; a side of cheesy cauliflower and barley carbonara is made with, well, cauliflower and barley, and it’s as hearty and delicious as can be. If you’re partial to those more expected plates that you crave when heading out for Italian (burrata, steak tartare, house-made bread, warm olives), you’re also in luck. The Farmhouse is open for weekday lunch, weekend brunch—we’re eyeing the panettone French toast and shrimp scampi benedict—as well as dinner and happy hour every day. 352 E. 10th Ave., 604260-2477. Farmhouseon10th.com